In Serbia, 85% of businessmen oppose the increase in the minimum price of labor next year, while only 15% are ready to accept the increase, but with a significant reduction in the operating costs of companies, according to a survey by the Union of Employers of Serbia.
Such an attitude of the economy differs significantly compared to last year, when for 46 percent of the respondents, the increase in the minimum wage was acceptable, the research showed.
As pointed out by the Union of Employers, such a difference is the result of worsened business conditions due to the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Employers see the solution to this situation in reducing operating costs, through a proportional reduction in taxes and contributions, increasing the non-taxable part of wages and reducing fiscal and parafiscal levies.
In that way, sustainable growth of salaries in the private sector is possible, which would not be at the expense of companies and with the reduction of their competitiveness.
Short-term reduction of budget revenues through such a solution would be covered through higher spending, crisis stabilization, employment growth and growth in the number of companies and entrepreneurs.
The survey of the Union of Employers was attended by representatives of 133 business entities, which employ a total of 16,134 people and three associations of entrepreneurs, which number 1,935 employers, which employ about 5,800 workers.
It is reminded that during July, the Union of Employers of Serbia traditionally conducts consultations and research of the attitudes of employers in order to see the attitudes of businessmen regarding the minimum price of labor in Serbia.
Negotiations with representatives of the Government of Serbia and trade unions will begin in August, and in September, the amount of the minimum labor price for 2021 will be considered within the Social and Economic Council of Serbia, BiF reports.
